30th matchday
Berlin (AP) – Barça winner Eintracht Frankfurt had to accept a serious mood dampener after the gala at Camp Nou. The Europa League semi-finalists lost 2-0 (0-2) to 1. FC Union Berlin on Sunday with a heavily changed team.
This means that Eintracht can hardly achieve an international starting place for the coming season via the Bundesliga. In complete contrast to the Irons, who also got in the mood for the DFB Cup semifinals at the second German Europa League semifinalist RB Leipzig on April 20th.
With goals from Taiwo Awoniyi (17th) and Grischa Prömel (21st), they celebrated their third win in a row and impressively underpinned their new goal of the European Cup in front of 22,012 spectators in the sold-out stadium at the Alte Försterei. In the table, Union Berlin moved up to sixth place with 47 points, while Frankfurt slipped to tenth place with 39 points.
Before kick-off, Union’s stadium announcer complimented the Eintracht fans who had traveled with them for their performance in Barcelona. After the kick-off, the Frankfurt pros quickly had low blows on the pitch.
Due to injury, Eintracht regular keeper Kevin Trapp had to pass. The 31-year-old suffered a sprained ligament in his wrist in Barcelona, as has now become known. Jens Grahl moved into the goal for Trapp – and he made his comeback in the Bundesliga after almost six years. Once at 1899 Hoffenheim, he made his last appearance for TSG in the upper house on May 14, 2016 – and lost 4-1.
And this time it didn’t end well either. Because Union got off to a great start, further strengthened after only two defeats in the previous 30 home games and the 4-1 most recently in the derby at Hertha BSC. Genki Haraguchi missed the lead in the 12th minute when his skillful extension of the header hit the post. Even then Grahl would have had no chance. As with Awoniyi’s low shot, after the Union striker had prevailed against two Frankfurters as quickly and robustly as possible. It was his 13th goal of the season – a club record.
The Eintracht fans were also unable to build up their team in the Alte Försterei temple of atmosphere. A dream goal from Prömel in the corner destroyed all hopes of the Hessians early on. Grahl was again unable to do anything, but he saved Frankfurt from going even further behind when he later cleared against Rani Khedira.
With a view to the two upcoming guest appearances in the cup and in the league against RB Leipzig, the Unioners no longer maintained the pressure and urge of the first half hour even after the change of sides. Nevertheless, they controlled what was now a relatively uneventful game, in which Awoniyi (63′) had the best chance of scoring the third Union goal. However, the guests were far away in the Köpenick forester’s lodge, far removed from a football festival like the Camp Nou in Barcelona.